Combined curb and conduit.



Patentoa Dec. 2, 1902.

F. LAPPIN.

(Application mod. Muy 12, 1902.)

COMBPNED CUBB AND CONDUIT.

(Ilo Model.)

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK LAPPIN, OF VVASHINGTON, DISTRIOT OF OOLUMBIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-I-IALF TO' JOHN J. WEED, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRIOT OF OOLUMBIA, AND EDXVARD D.N. WHITNEY, OF MINNEAPOLS, MINNESOTA.

COMBINED CURB AND CONDUIT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 714,'716, dated December 2, 1902.

Y Application filed May 12, 1902. Serial No. 106,!)26. (No model.)

To LZZ whom it may con/own,.-

Be it known that I, FRANK LAPPIN, a citizen of the United States, residingatWashington, in the District of Columbia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in a Oombined Curb and Conduit; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and eX- act description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it apo pertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in :5 the class of combined curb and conduit used for electric wires for telegraph, telephone, and for other purposes.

The object of the invention is to produce a i combined curb and conduit for electric wires zo for telegraph or telephone wires or cables, but also applicable to other purposes, also that such curb and conduit shall be of Very simple Construction and manipulation, also that it can be easily and readily placed in position to form the curbs now in general use as a dividing-line between the foot-pavement and the bed of the street; furthermore, that it can be manufactured and placed in position at a very moderate expense, and, finally, that the wires or cables can be readily accessibleor can be easily replaced or repaired when desired.

With these objects in VleW my invention consists of a metal trough of the general construction of theordinary curbstones now in use and provided with a lid or top removable to gain access to the interior.

It also consists in arranging in this trough suitable brackets for supporting the wires or cables. i

40 It finally consists in the peculiar construction of details, as well as the novel arrangement of parts, as will be more fully described hereinafter and specifically pointed out in the claims, reference being had to the accom- 5 panying drawings and the letters thereon.

In the drawings, Figure 1 represents a streetcorner with my invention in place. Fig. 2 is an enlarged cross-section of the curb and conduit. Fig. 3 is a longitudnal section of Fig.

2. Fig. 4: is a cross-section of a modification. 5o Fig. 5 is another modification.

In the drawings, A represents a trough, of preferably rectangular cross-section, of suitable dimensions to contorm to the general configuration of the ordinary curbstone now in use. This trough is provided with a cover or lid B for gaining access to the interior of the trough. The cover B has at each side flanges c, projecting inward and serving to not only hold said cover, but also to strengthen the sides of the trough and form a brace, so as to resist any violent shocks against the curb. Within the trough are placed at suitable distances the brackets O, having hooks din which the cablesE are supported. There may be any number of these brackets to support any required number of wires or cables, according to the size and depth of the curb. At the ends of each trough, that may be of any proper lengths, are arranged matched 7o months F, so that one length can be slipped into another, and the joints can be made perfectly tight by a Waterproof material e. (shown in Fig. 3.) At the street-crossings the troughs are arranged to dip down under the 7 streets by curving said troughs, as shown by the dotted lines at g' in Fig. 1. In this case the troughs are made of cast-iron; but if it is desirable the said troughs can be made of wrought-iron or steel. If made of Wroughtiron osteel, the troughs can be strengthened at the tops by angle-irons f, (shownin Fig. 4,) or depending fianges may be rolled on them to embrace the tops of said troughs, similar as in Fig. 2. The brackets are preferably made of hard Wood-such as ash, oak, yellow pine, &co-but they maybe cast in position, although I prefer them of wood to prevent the abrasion of the cables. Asis Well known, they are usually inclosed in rubber or Vulcanite, and being liable to movement lengthwise they are liable to wear.

In Fig. 5 is a detail section of the conduit at a street-corner and the road-bed. In this modification is shown the method of securing the abutting ends, so as to prevent sagging of either end in case the foundation upon which they rest from some cause should become depressed. One or more bolts b are passed through the cover B and one or more bolts e' through the adjoining section of conduit, and both bolts b' and e' then pass through a butt-plate g, eXtending across the joint of the conduit and then are Secured by nuts. If desired, however, the butt-plates g may be tapped to receive the screw ends of the bolts, which are then screwed into them. The bolt-heads may be countersunk in the cover, if desired, and a depression to receive them is then required. It Will be noticed that the conduit is in this i'stance level or in a straight line on the bottom, and the cover is level with the road-bed. Said cover must then be roughened by corrugating or otherwise to prevent slipping of the horses. The curb is formed as shown in Fig. 5, and the curb must be arranged so as not to interfere with the Sewer-opening now usually formed under the cast-iron cover at the corners.

I am aware that a combined curb and conduit for receiviug electric and telephone cables is, broadly, not new, and I disclaim such broadly; but,

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combined curb and Conduit herein described, consisting of rectangular metal troughs, having covers with depending fianges, fitting into the upper ends of the troughs, and provided With roughened surfaces, said troughs having anges at their ends, for bolting them together, and hooks on their inner sides to receive the electric caloles, in combination with the bolts and buttplates g, to secure the euds of the troughs together, for preventing sagging of either end of said troughs, all arranged as set forth.

2. The combination of a series of rectangular metallic troughs, having fiauges at their ends to bolt them together, and telescoped with their mouths, and provided with brackets C and hooks d to receive the cables, the covers B, roughened on their upper surfaces, and having flanges c to enter the troughs,1he packing e, with the bolts and butt-plates g, to prevent sagging at the ends, all arranged as shown.

In testimony whereof I aflX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FRANK LAPPIN.

Witnesses:

JOHN J WEED, A. H. NOFSINGER. 

